The following are frequently asked questions we receive about Membership and Passport, WETA Television, the PBS NewsHour, WETA Classical and more.

Most Frequently Asked

  • How do I cancel my monthly sustaining gift?

    By Phone: Contact Audience Services at 703-998-2724. Phone hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

    By Email: membership@weta.org

  • I did not receive my WETA Passport Activation Code? (note, it can take up to three hours)

    1. Check your spam folder, or
    2. Use the Passport Member Lookup to have your activation code resent

    If you are still having problems, call the PBS Help Desk up from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Friday at 703-270-0069.

  • How do I sign in to my WETA Passport account?

    Go to https://watch.weta.org

    If you see a Sign In button in the upper left, click on it, then select the account that you originally signed in with (PBS Account, Facebook, Google or Apple). If you are on a mobile device (smart phone or tablet) look for the “hamburger” menu (horizontal lines) at the top of the page, you should find a Sign In link there. If you do not recall how you signed in, call the PBS Help Desk at 703-270-0069 (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.).

  • I paid my renewal but received another renewal notice!

    Our apologies! It is not unusual for a payment and a new notice to cross in the mail. There’s no need to contact us. If we received your payment, your account has been or will be renewed and you should not receive any additional notices.

  • When is my renewal due? Why am I receiving early renewal notices?

    Your membership anniversary is 12 months from the date of your last contribution. Based on multiple considerations, we send the first renewal reminder four months in advance of your anniversary date to allow plenty of time and opportunity to renew on your preferred timeline.

  • I donate monthly. How can I update my credit card or bank information for my monthly sustaining gift?

    Online: Fill out the Online Sustainer Update Form

    By Phone: Contact Audience Services at 703-998-2724. Phone hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday

    By Mail: Download the Printable Sustainer Update Form and mail it to our offices.

    WETA Membership Department

    3939 Campbell Avenue Arlington, VA 22206

All Questions by Topic

Membership

  • How do I sign in to my WETA Passport account?

    Go to https://watch.weta.org

    If you see a Sign In button in the upper left, click on it, then select the account that you originally signed in with (PBS Account, Facebook, Google or Apple). If you are on a mobile device (smart phone or tablet) look for the “hamburger” menu (horizontal lines) at the top of the page, you should find a Sign In link there. If you do not recall how you signed in, call the PBS Help Desk at 703-270-0069 (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.).

  • How do I cancel my monthly sustaining gift?

    By Phone: Contact Audience Services at 703-998-2724. Phone hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

    By Email: membership@weta.org

  • I did not receive my WETA Passport Activation Code? (note, it can take up to three hours)

    1. Check your spam folder, or
    2. Use the Passport Member Lookup to have your activation code resent

    If you are still having problems, call the PBS Help Desk up from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Friday at 703-270-0069.

  • When is my renewal due? Why am I receiving early renewal notices?

    Your membership anniversary is 12 months from the date of your last contribution. Based on multiple considerations, we send the first renewal reminder four months in advance of your anniversary date to allow plenty of time and opportunity to renew on your preferred timeline.

  • I paid my renewal but received another renewal notice!

    Our apologies! It is not unusual for a payment and a new notice to cross in the mail. There’s no need to contact us. If we received your payment, your account has been or will be renewed and you should not receive any additional notices.

  • I donate monthly. How can I update my credit card or bank information for my monthly sustaining gift?

    Online: Fill out the Online Sustainer Update Form

    By Phone: Contact Audience Services at 703-998-2724. Phone hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday

    By Mail: Download the Printable Sustainer Update Form and mail it to our offices.

    WETA Membership Department

    3939 Campbell Avenue Arlington, VA 22206

  • What is your legal name and Federal Tax ID number?

    Our legal name is Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Assoc. Inc. (WETA) and our Federal Tax ID (EIN) is 53-0242992.

  • When will I receive my thank-you gift from a television or radio pledge campaign?

    If you called in or made an online contribution during an On-Air Pledge campaign and requested a thank-you gift, you should receive it within 2-8 weeks from the time of your pledge. We will reach out to you by email or mail if there are exceptions or expected delays. The date of your pledge is on your online receipt or noted in your pledge acknowledgment letter.

  • I sent a check from my Donor Advised Fund, IRA, gave through the CFC or through my workplace giving campaign. Why am I still receiving renewal notices?

    Our apologies if we have not yet received notice of your renewal! These notifications can take a while to get to the intended charity, but when we do receive it we will update our records accordingly.

    It is also possible that we received your contribution from one of these sources with no donor name or information attached to the check. Please email us to let us know and we will consult our records and get back to you.

  • I would like to mail a donation to WETA. To whom should I address it?

    Attn: Membership

    WETA TV & FM

    3939 Campbell Avenue

    Arlington, VA 22206

  • Do I have to make a new pledge to request a thank you gift?

    No. If you have not chosen a gift with your pledge for the year, you can request one at any time. Call Audience Services at 703-998-2724 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

  • I want to find out if you will air a show I am interested in on any WETA TV channel.

    Browse the Shows: On-Air page.

    If the show is not on the list, it is not currently scheduled. You can check the list periodically to see if it appears. Future schedules are not available to share.

  • I no longer wish to receive mail or other marketing communications from WETA.

    Please email us and we will honor your request. Note- please allow 8-10 weeks for the mail cycle to empty. If we update your account today you may still receive additional communications during that time.

  • I did not receive my WETA Magazine.

    Please email us with your name and mailing address and we will send you a new one.

PBS NewsHour

  • I want to stream the NewsHour after it airs, but today’s episode hasn’t loaded, yet?

    We apologize. There are occasional challenges to getting a live program turned around and ready for streaming. The fastest possible turnaround time is important to everyone and staff work diligently to get it loaded as soon as possible. A given day’s show will also repeat on multiple WETA channels — complete listings can be found on the PBS NewsHour page.

  • Can I live stream the PBS NewsHour?

    Yes, it feeds live at 6 p.m. EST/EDT. There are many ways to watch it.

    1. If you are local to the Washington, D.C., area you can watch on our WETA Metro livestream, right here on our website, or on your devices using the free PBS Video App (click on the "Live TV" option) which can be downloaded here 
    2. It is streamed each night on Ustream
    3. Via the PBS NewsHour YouTube channel
    4. Via the PBS NewsHour Facebook page

    The YouTube stream is available directly on the NewsHour website, while the UStream player is embedded on about 30 local PBS station websites. The stream is direct from the PBS satellite in order to provide closed captioning.

  • I want to make a comment or give feedback about the PBS NewsHour.

    The best way for your view to be heard is to provide direct feedback to the producers: viewermail@newshour.org. All comments are read and vetted.

Sustaining Membership

  • How do I cancel my monthly sustaining gift?

    By Phone: Contact Audience Services at 703-998-2724. Phone hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

    By Email: membership@weta.org

  • I did not receive my WETA Passport Activation Code? (note, it can take up to three hours)

    1. Check your spam folder, or
    2. Use the Passport Member Lookup to have your activation code resent

    If you are still having problems, call the PBS Help Desk up from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Friday at 703-270-0069.

  • How do I sign in to my WETA Passport account?

    Go to https://watch.weta.org

    If you see a Sign In button in the upper left, click on it, then select the account that you originally signed in with (PBS Account, Facebook, Google or Apple). If you are on a mobile device (smart phone or tablet) look for the “hamburger” menu (horizontal lines) at the top of the page, you should find a Sign In link there. If you do not recall how you signed in, call the PBS Help Desk at 703-270-0069 (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.).

  • I donate monthly. How can I update my credit card or bank information for my monthly sustaining gift?

    Online: Fill out the Online Sustainer Update Form

    By Phone: Contact Audience Services at 703-998-2724. Phone hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday

    By Mail: Download the Printable Sustainer Update Form and mail it to our offices.

    WETA Membership Department

    3939 Campbell Avenue Arlington, VA 22206

  • What is your legal name and Federal Tax ID number?

    Our legal name is Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Assoc. Inc. (WETA) and our Federal Tax ID (EIN) is 53-0242992.

  • Can I see the details of my current sustaining gift online?

    Unfortunately, we cannot currently display the details of your giving online. Please call WETA Audience Services at 703-998-2724 for more information about your current or past support.

  • Do I have to make a new pledge to request a thank you gift?

    No. If you have not chosen a gift with your pledge for the year, you can request one at any time. Call Audience Services at 703-998-2724 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

  • I want to find out if you will air a show I am interested in on any WETA TV channel.

    Browse the Shows: On-Air page.

    If the show is not on the list, it is not currently scheduled. You can check the list periodically to see if it appears. Future schedules are not available to share.

WETA Classical and VivaLaVoce

  • I want to listen to WETA Classical online. What are my options?

    There are many ways to listen to WETA Classical and WETA VivaLaVoce online, from smart speakers to our mobile app to right here on WETA.org. Find the one that works best for your lifestyle on the Ways to Listen page.

  • I would like to explore other programs and features on WETA Classical or WETA Viva la Voce beyond the daily playlist.

    Visit the Programs and Features page.

  • Can I see the bio of my favorite WETA Classical host?

    Yes, bios for all of our on-air hosts can be found here.

  • I want to see the current Album of the Week listing.

    Visit the Album of the Week page.

  • What is the broadcast coverage area of WETA Classical?

    Please see our coverage map.

  • I heard a music selection on WETA Classical or WETA Viva la Voce that I would like to identify (title of piece, composer name, etc). Can I see the playlist?

    Here are the online playlists for WETA Classical and WETA VivaLaVoce.

  • I clicked “Buy Album” but the Arkiv music site does not display that album.

    That means the album is no longer available for purchase from any retailer. The rights are most likely expired. Arkiv may suggest an alternative selection.

  • Can I buy the album for music I heard on WETA Classical or WETA Viva la Voce?

    If it is available, go to the online playlist to where you see the music listed. If it is available, you will see a link that says “Buy Album.”

WETA Passport

  • I did not receive my WETA Passport Activation Code? (note, it can take up to three hours)

    1. Check your spam folder, or
    2. Use the Passport Member Lookup to have your activation code resent

    If you are still having problems, call the PBS Help Desk up from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday through Friday at 703-270-0069.

  • How do I sign in to my WETA Passport account?

    Go to https://watch.weta.org

    If you see a Sign In button in the upper left, click on it, then select the account that you originally signed in with (PBS Account, Facebook, Google or Apple). If you are on a mobile device (smart phone or tablet) look for the “hamburger” menu (horizontal lines) at the top of the page, you should find a Sign In link there. If you do not recall how you signed in, call the PBS Help Desk at 703-270-0069 (Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 11 p.m.).

  • How do I cancel my monthly WETA Passport sustaining gift?

    By Phone: Contact Audience Services at 703-998-2724. Phone hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

    By Email: sustainer@weta.org

  • I am trying to stream a WETA Passport video, but it will not play or it says the video is not available.

    Please report the problem to help@pbs.org.

  • Am I eligible for WETA Passport?

    WETA Passport is a member benefit available to WETA donors with a yearly contribution of at least $60 or an ongoing monthly contribution of $5 or more. It cannot be purchased separately.

  • There’s a show I would like to see in WETA Passport, but it isn’t available.

    In order to be available to viewers in WETA Passport, we must have streaming “rights” to the show. If the show is not in the platform, the owner/distributor of the program has not granted the rights to us, so we are prohibited from offering it to you. Streaming rights for the majority of WETA UK shows are not available.

  • I am a WETA member without a WETA Passport code (my giving level is $60 or more annually or $5 or more per month), but I am not sure if I have an account or login. How can I check?

    First, use the Member Lookup Tool

    Please email us at membership@weta.org or call 703-998-2724 to have an activation code sent to you. We must have a valid email address for you.

  • How do I download the free PBS Video App?

    You can learn more about downloading the free PBS Video App by clicking here.

  • A show I want to watch is not available on WETA Passport, why?

    In order to be available to viewers in WETA Passport, we must have streaming “rights” to the show. If the show is not in the platform, the owner/distributor of the program has not granted the rights to us, so we are prohibited from offering it to you. Streaming rights for the majority of WETA UK shows are not available.

WETA Television

  • What is the broadcast coverage area of WETA Television?

    Please see our coverage map.

  • Does WETA offer tours of its radio and/or television facilities?

    Unfortunately, no, not at this time. However, we have conducted organized adult-only group tours for WETA donors in the past and may reprise that activity at some time in the future.

  • I don’t hear any sound or audio on a program I am watching.

    This should be a quick and easy fix for you. Somewhere along the way, you or a member of your household mostly likely accidentally changed the language or SAP (second audio program) settings on your remote control. It must be set to "English" or "channel/setting 1." It is a common mishap.

    If you do not know where the audio settings button is on your remote control, your television owner's manual should have easy-to-follow directions on how to do it. (If you are using a remote control associated with a cable or satellite box, they will be with the instruction manual for the service).

  • How do I find a WETA channel on my cable or satellite system?

    Click here to view a breakdown of channel numbers by service provider.

  • I want to make a comment, give feedback or provide a suggestion about a show I saw on WETA.

    The best way to have your voice be heard is to write directly to the program producers — the people who made the show. Most programs have a website, so just do an online search for the name of the show.

    Once you find the program website, look for the Feedback or Contact Us link.

  • Can I access the schedules for all of WETA’s five broadcast channels?

    Yes: The online schedule covers a three-week period for the previous seven days and the next fourteen days.

  • I am a cord-cutter – can I livestream a WETA channel?

    Yes! 

    WETA Metro is WETA’s exclusive streaming channel. Click here to watch it directly from our website. You can also view it through the free PBS Video App on most devices by clicking the "Live TV" icon. The program schedule for WETA Metro is available here: https://weta.org/schedule.

    (Note, local television streams are only available to viewers who live within a station’s geographic area).

  • My reception of WETA channels over the air via antenna is lost or not very stable.

    If you have suddenly lost over-the-air reception of television signals (some or all channels), you will need to rescan and/or double rescan your TV tuner.

    Here's what to do:

    Rescan – these are “generic” instructions and your TV may use different descriptions (for exact instructions, consult your TV owner’s manual; if you no longer have the manual, you can search online by typing “how to rescan my [Brand Name] TV”

    1. Go to the TV Menu on your remote control
    2. Select/find “Channel Setup” (or similar)
    3. Choose “Antenna” and/or “Air”
    4. Run “Auto Program” (or similar)
    5. Your TV may take roughly 3 to 15 minutes to find all the channels in your area

    If rescanning does not work: Double Rescan (because sometimes a simple rescan does not work to recover lost channels)

    1. Disconnect your TV antenna from the television
    2. Rescan for channels (as above)
    3. Turn off the TV
    4. Reconnect the antenna
    5. Turn on the TV and rescan

    Note: Digital TV signals are inherently unstable and subject to worsen under bad weather and other conditions. It is generally a good idea to double rescan your equipment regularly as it is common to lose digital signals.

  • I want more information about the content of a program that I saw.

    Type the name of the show in your browser and visit the program website directly. Most series and programs have their own website, and include a Contact Us or feedback link for viewers to share their feedback.